Agriculture and the exploitation of natural resources are the main pivots of Cameroon’s economic development. An estimated 80 % of rural households are involved in farming and contribute about 30% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, prolonged dry spells and droughts negatively affect agricultural output and economic development. This paper examines the drivers, magnitude and impact of climate change in the semi-arid northern section of Cameroon on food security and malnutrition. A conjunction between drought, climate change, desertification, prolonged dry spells and floods often lead to significant crop losses in this region. Compounding this situation is increased population pressure-partly due to the influx of refugees as well as droughts and floods which have partly led to the mobility of herds as a response to the extension of cropping areas, pasture shortage and farmer- grazer conflicts resulting from crop damage. This is happening against the backdrop of land tenure insecurity for women which, has been fuelled by competition and power struggle between customary and modern tenure systems affecting land management and access to resources. Drawing theoretical insights from the concept of “politics of the belly[1]” in political ecology and from resource use conflict theories, this chapter examines the negative impacts of climate change and calls attention to a shift away from formal institutions to individual behaviour so as to integrate and take note of the “politics of the belly” in political ecology. The omnipresent phenomenon of climate change has the potential to alter agricultural productivity, fuel illnesses and diseases in one of the least developed regions in Cameroon. Although climate, soil and vegetation are subject to variation, they are the fundamental elements of ecology and thus are interconnected. Climate can have a bearing on health and mortality in two ways. On the one hand, it conditions temperature which disproportionately affects children at tender ages as well as adults- more senior citizens die of heat stroke- and on the other, it favours the spread of infectious agents or their vectors-especially pathogenic micro-organisms. It is determinant to the type, quantity as well as the quality of food and water resources available during certain periods of the year.The paper suggests among others that the negative impacts of temperature and precipitation change could be counteracted by changing sowing dates, through the professionalisation of the livestock production system alongside the promotion of forage crops and by increasing investment in infrastructure- particularly transportation, energy and irrigation. The success of these measures will require a coordinated intersectorial and transborder approach to rural development.

[1] Profit motive underpinning political leaning and participation as well as voting preference.